Cyclone Asani; alert announced in Andhra, Odisha, Bengal

The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday, May 8, said that Cyclone Asani is likely to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. Deep Depression intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ about380 km west of Port Blair (Andaman Islands).To move northwestwards and intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours.

According to Andhra’s Amaravati Meteorological centre, cyclone Asani is very likely to continue to move northwestwards till May 10 evening and reach west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. After that, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.

On Saturday, the weather office said that Cyclone Asani would not make landfall in either Odisha or Andhra Pradesh, but would move parallel to the coast. The governments of Odisha and West Bengal have taken all precautionary measures to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Andaman Sea on May 8. The central parts of Bay of Bengal on May 9 and 10 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12. Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to the coast.